Experience Dyea without the crowds

Departure Time

• 4PM most days

This tour is not advised for guests on cruise ships that leave before 8:00PM!

Duration

• 3 hours (includes transfers)

What's Included

• Scenic drive to Dyea
• Guided trek thru the historic city of Dyea
• Numerous stops, interpretive signs, and photo locations
• Opportunity to spot Alaskan wildlife

Transportation Options

• Pickup located at cruise ship docks & also downtown Skagway

Guest/Participant Limitations

• Must be able to walk on own (at least 100 yards).

ADA Access

• This excursion is not able to accommodate guests with service animals or mobility assistive devices/wheelchairs.

L: 10 Cruise: Yes

Leave the crowds of Skagway behind and join a small group tour (14 max) to Klondike National Historic Park in nearby Dyea. In 1898, Dyea boasted over 8,000 residents and had a Main Street lined with dozens of hotels, restaurants and saloons. Little of the town remains today. Alaska nature is what gives Dyea its defining character.

The tour begins as you meet your expert guide and board the comfortable van for a scenic, nine-mile drive along Taiya Inlet’s rocky seacoast. No big buses are allowed along this route. We’ll keep our eyes open for bald eagles and harbor seals that frequent this rich tidal estuary as we cross the Taiya River Bridge and head to explore Dyea’s rich meadows and forests.

The pace is unhurried and there is time to enjoy the wonders of nature. As you drive through the park, your naturalist guide knows the best places to stop for scenery and nature. All vehicles are equipped with a powerful spotting scope and binoculars to assist with wildlife viewing. Make sure you bring your camera to take advantage of the numerous photo opportunities.

This is a “guide’s choice” tour, so the exact itinerary is dependent on weather, wildlife, and group interest. Every month brings something different to Dyea. In May, June and July, the wildflowers are at their peak, with an impressive display of chocolate lilies, fireweed and wild irises. Beginning in late July, the Taiya river fills with migrating salmon, and the chance of seeing bald eagles and the occasional brown bear increases. In September, the cottonwood trees turn yellow and the bushes are covered in berries. Amanita mushrooms add a splash of red to the green forest understory.

We will stop at the former townsite for a half-mile walk along a flat and well-maintained trail that once was Dyea’s “Broadway.” Your guide will help you discover signs of this town’s fascinating history which is still evident under the layers of moss, ferns and mushrooms. Another possibility is a short stroll through the thick spruce forest to visit the Slide Cemetery. Dozens of miners were buried here after the Palm Sunday avalanche of 1898. The quiet here is palpable; only occasionally is it broken by the lilting call of a songbird. The faded wooden grave markers are a poignant reminder of the hazards faced by the Klondike argonauts.

Whatever the exact itinerary, you will return to your ship with more than photos. You’ll have gained an appreciation of the impermanence of man and the profound and lasting power of Alaska nature.

Payment options include American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa; including FOREIGN cards are accepted. Charges are done in USD through a US Bank.

L: 10 Cruise: NO

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